Child seat tray assembly

Abstract

A seat tray assembly is provided for use with a high chair. The seat tray assembly includes a tray bottom formed for engagement with and extension between arms of the chair and a tray top mounted on the tray bottom for sliding movement relative to and above the tray bottom. In addition, the tray assembly includes a lock unit for selectively locking the tray top on the tray bottom to cause the slidable tray top to occupy a memory position lying on the tray bottom so that the tray top is returned automatically to the memory position each time the tray bottom is mounted on the arms of the chair.

We claim: 
     
       1. A seat tray assembly for use with a high chair having a seat portion, a back portion, and arms, the tray assembly comprising a tray bottom formed for engagement with and extension between the arms,   a tray top mounted for sliding movement on the tray bottom, the tray top being at least as wide as the tray bottom, and   means for locking the tray top on the tray bottom so that the tray top occupies a pre-determined set position relative to the seat back each time the tray bottom is fixed on the arms of the high chair.   
     
     
       2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the locking means includes a tray lock unit positioned between the tray top and the tray bottom, a latch movably coupled with the tray top and movably mounted on the lock unit, latch posts coupled to the tray bottom, and spring means for yieldably biasing the lock unit toward the back portion so that the latch moves into a latch post-engaging position to set the pre-determined position. 
     
     
       3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the tray top includes an outward side, an inward side facing the tray bottom, and a pivot post extending from the inward side toward the tray bottom and the latch is movably coupled to the pivot post. 
     
     
       4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the latch includes a head portion, a tail portion, and a central pivot portion positioned between the head and the tail portions and the central pivot portion is movably coupled to the pivot post. 
     
     
       5. The assembly of 2, further comprising means for moving the latch from the latch post-engaging position to a latch post-disengaging position so that the tray top is free to slide upon the tray bottom relative to the back portion. 
     
     
       6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the tray top includes an outward edge and the moving means includes a handle affixed to the lock unit and arranged to move the latch toward the latch post-disengaging position upon outward movement of the handle relative to the outward edge of the tray top. 
     
     
       7. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the lock unit includes a bottom side and a top side, and the latch is movably joined to the top side for limited movement therewith so that the latch is yieldably biased away from the latch posts and into a latch post-disengaging position as the lock unit moves outwardly from the back portion. 
     
     
       8. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the tray top includes an outward side, an inward side, and means for mounting the spring means on the inward side so that the spring means extends between the tray locking unit and the tray top. 
     
     
       9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the mounting means is a mounting post coupled to the inward side and arranged to extend toward the tray bottom and the spring means is positioned to extend between the mounting post and the tray locking unit. 
     
     
       10. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising means for mounting the tray bottom on the arms so that the tray bottom is attached to the chair in a fixed locked position, the mounting means being formed to include a locking bar extending across the tray bottom, mounting latches coupled to the bar, and spring means for normally urging the mounting latches into engagement with the arms so that the tray bottom is locked thereto. 
     
     
       11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the tray bottom is formed to include an inner surface, an outer surface, and a lip extending about the perimeter of the outer surface toward the tray top, a space is defined by the lip and positioned between the tray top and the outer surface of the tray bottom, and the locking bar extends across the space and engages the lip. 
     
     
       12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the mounting latches include a locking end, a spring-retention end, and a center pivot portion coupled to the locking bar and the spring means is a locking spring extending between the tray bottom and the spring-retention portion. 
     
     
       13. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the tray bottom is further formed to include means for positioning the mounting latches in a tray mount included with the arms of the high chair so that the mounting latches are yieldably biased into engagement with the tray mount so that the positioning means is fixed within the tray mount. 
     
     
       14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the positioning means of the tray bottom includes a guiding portion having a conical side wall formed for extension into the tray mount toward the seat portion, an inner end, and an outer end, the mounting latch extends through the guiding portion and is adapted to affix an annular rim of the tray mount between itself and the inner end of the guiding portion. 
     
     
       15. A seat tray assembly for use with a high chair having a seat portion, a back portion, and arms, the tray assembly comprising a tray bottom formed for engagement with the arms,   a tray top mounted for sliding movement on the tray bottom, the tray top including an outward side, an inward side facing the tray bottom, and a pivot post extending from the inward side toward the tray bottom, and   means for locking the tray top on the tray bottom so that the tray top occupies a pre-determined set position relative to the seat back each time the tray bottom is fixed on the arms of the high chair, the locking means including a tray lock unit positioned between the tray top and the tray bottom, a latch movably coupled with the tray top, movably mounted on the lock unit, and being formed to include a head portion, a tail portion, a central pivot portion positioned between the head and the tail portions and movably coupled to the pivot post, and a pivot aperture extending therethrough and the pivot post extends through the aperture, latch posts coupled to the tray bottom, and spring means for yieldably biasing the lock unit toward the back portion so that the latch undergoes pivoting movement relative to the tray top and the latching posts and moves into a post-engaging position to set the pre-determined position.   
     
     
       16. A seat tray assembly for use with a high chair having a seat portion, a back portion, and arms, the tray assembly comprising a tray bottom formed for engagement with the arms,   a tray top mounted for sliding movement on the tray bottom, the tray top including an outward side, an inward side facing the tray bottom, and a pivot post extending from the inward side toward the tray bottom, and   means for locking the tray top on the tray bottom so that the tray top occupies a pre-determined set position relative to the seat back each time the tray bottom is fixed on the arms of the high chair, the locking means including a tray lock unit positioned between the tray top and the tray bottom, a latch movably coupled with the pivot post of the tray top and movably mounted on the lock unit, the latch including a head portion having a tab extending outwardly therefrom, a tail portion, and a central pivot portion positioned between the head and the tail portions and movably coupled to the pivot post, latch posts coupled to the tray bottom, and spring means for yieldably biasing the lock unit toward the back portion so that the latch moves and the tab engages one of the latch posts in the latch post-engaging position to fasten and set the tray top in the pre-determined position.   
     
     
       17. The assembly of claim 16, wherein the locking means includes three latch posts positioned to lie in spaced-apart relation to one another along the tray bottom with mounting notches extending therebetween and the tab is sized for insertion into one of the notches for engagement with one of the latch posts. 
     
     
       18. A seat tray assembly for use with a high chair having a seat portion, a back portion, and arms, the tray assembly comprising a tray bottom formed for engagement with the arms,   a tray top mounted for sliding movement on the tray bottom, the tray top including a border extending about the perimeter of the tray top, the border being formed to include an aperture therethrough,   means for locking the tray top on the tray bottom so that the tray top occupies a pre-determined position relative to the seat back each time the tray bottom is fixed on the arms of the high chair, the locking means including a tray lock unit positioned between the tray top and the tray bottom, a latch movably coupled with the tray top and movably mounted on the lock unit, latch posts coupled to the tray bottom, and spring means for yieldably biasing the lock unit toward the back portion so that the latch moves into a latch post-engaging position to set the pre-determined position, and   means for moving the latch from the latch post-engaging position to a latch post-disengaging position so that the tray top is free to slide upon the tray bottom relative to the back portion, and the moving means includes a handle affixed to the lock unit, and the handle is sized for extension through the aperture.   
     
     
       19. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the tray top includes an outward edge, and the latch is situated in the latch post-disengaging position following movement of the handle through the aperture and away from the outward edge. 
     
     
       20. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the tray bottom includes an inner surface, an outer surface, and a lip positioned about the perimeter of the outer surface, the lip is formed to include an aperture therethrough, and the lock unit is sized for extension through the aperture. 
     
     
       21. A seat tray assembly for use with a high chair having a seat portion, a back portion, and arms, the tray assembly comprising a tray bottom formed for engagement with the arms,   a tray top mounted for sliding movement on the tray bottom, and   means for locking the tray top on the tray bottom so that the tray top occupies a pre-determined position relative to the seat back each time the tray bottom is fixed on the arms of the high chair, the locking means including a tray lock unit positioned between the tray top and the tray bottom, the lock unit including a bottom side, a top side, and a pivot bar extending toward the tray top from the top side, a latch movably joined to the top side of the tray top for limited movement therewith so that the latch is biased away from the latch posts and into a latch post-disengaging position as the lock unit moves outwardly from the back portion and movably mounted on the lock unit, the latch being formed to include a slot extending therethrough, and the bar extends through the slot for slidable movement therein, and spring means for yieldably biasing the lock unit toward the back portion so that the latch moves into a latch post-engaging position to set the pre-determined position.   
     
     
       22. The assembly of claim 21, wherein the latch includes a head portion, a tail portion, and a central pivot portion positioned therebetween, the tail portion is formed to include the slot extending therethrough, the slot includes opposite first and second ends, and the pivot bar is positioned in the first end of the slot when the head is in the latching post-engaging position. 
     
     
       23. The assembly of claim 22, wherein the pivot bar is positioned in the second end of the slot when the head portion is in the latching post-disengaging position. 
     
     
       24. A seat tray system for a chair seat having a seating portion, a back portion, and arms, the system comprising a tray bottom formed for engagement with and extension between the arms,   a tray top movably mounted on the tray bottom,   means for locking the tray top on the tray bottom so that the tray top is fixed in a pre-determined set position relative to the back portion of the seat,   means for moving the tray top upon the tray bottom so that the tray top is released from the fixed pre-determined position and slides between a retracted fixed position and an expanded fixed position, and   means for mounting the tray bottom on the arms to position the tray top in front of a child seated in the seat portion without blocking movement of the tray top between the retracted position and the expanded position.   
     
     
       25. The system of claim 24, wherein the locking means includes a tray lock unit positioned between the tray top and the tray bottom, a latch movably coupled with the tray top and movably mounted on the lock unit, latch posts coupled to the tray bottom, and spring means for yieldably biasing the lock unit toward the back portion so that the latch moves into a latch post-engaging position to set the pre-determined position. 
     
     
       26. The system of claim 25, wherein the latch includes a head portion, a tail portion, and a central pivot portion positioned therebetween and movably coupled with the tray top and the head portion is normally biased toward the latching posts. 
     
     
       27. The system of claim 26, wherein the head portion includes a tab extending outwardly therefrom, the tab is yieldably biased into engagement with one of the latching posts. 
     
     
       28. The system of claim 24, wherein the mounting means of the system includes a locking bar, mounting latches coupled to the bar, and spring means for normally urging the mounting latches into engagement with an annular rim of the tray mount so that the tray bottom is securely mounted on the arms. 
     
     
       29. The system of claim 28, wherein the locking bar includes opposite ends and the assembly further comprises latch-release levers positioned on the opposite ends so that the mounting latches yieldably pivot away from the annular rim as the latch-release levers are lifted away from the seating portion. 
     
     
       30. The system of claim 28, wherein the tray bottom includes an inner surface, an outer surface, and a lip extending along the perimeter of the outer surface and the mounting latches are positioned between the tray top and the tray bottom within the perimeter of the lip and the latch-release levers are positioned outwardly relative to the lip. 
     
     
       31. The system of claim 29, wherein each guiding portion includes a conical side wall having an inner end facing the seating portion, and outer end, and a lip located within the wall, the lip is formed to include a latch slot extending therethrough, and the mounting latch is biased to extend through the latch slot toward the back portion so that the annular rim is fixed between the inner end and mounting latch. 
     
     
       32. The system of claim 28, wherein the annular rim includes an outwardly facing mounting lip, an inwardly facing latch-receiving undercut, and a latch aperture extending between the mounting lip and the undercut, and the latch is biased to extend toward the back portion of the seat, through the latch aperture, and into engagement with the undercut. 
     
     
       33. A seat tray system for a chair seat having a seating portion, a back portion, and arms, the system comprising a tray bottom including a flat panel formed for extension across the seating portion between the arms and engagement with the arms,   a tray top movably mounted on the tray bottom,   means for locking the tray top on the tray bottom so that the tray top is fixed in a pre-determined position relative to the back portion of the seat, the locking means including a tray lock unit positioned between the tray top and the tray bottom, a latch movably coupled with the tray top, movably mounted on the lock unit, and including a head portion having a tab extending outwardly therefrom, a tail portion, and a central pivot portion positioned therebetween and movably coupled with the tray top, three outwardly appending latching posts coupled to the tray bottom and positioned to lie in spaced apart relation to one another on the flat panel with mounting notches extending therebetween and spring means for yieldably biasing the lock unit toward the back portion so that the head portion of the latch is normally biased toward the latching posts into a latch post-engaging position and the tab extends into one of the notches and engages one of the latching posts in the latch post-engaging position to set the pre-determined position,   means for moving the tray top upon the tray bottom so that the tray top is released from the fixed pre-determined position and slides between a retracted fixed position and an expanded fixed position, and   means for mounting the tray bottom on the arms to position the tray top in front of a child seated in the seat portion without blocking movement of the tray top between the retracted position and the expanded position.   
     
     
       34. The system of claim 33, wherein the tab extends into the first mounting notch and engages the first post in the fixed expanded position. 
     
     
       35. The system of claim 33, wherein the tab engages the third post in the fixed retracted position. 
     
     
       36. A seat tray system for a chair seat having a seating portion, a back portion, and arms each formed to include a tray mount therein, the tray mount includes a cylindrical body having an annular rim positioned therein, the system comprising a tray bottom formed for engagement with the arms, the tray bottom including a flat panel formed for extension across the seating portion between the arms and guiding portions extending from the panel toward the seating portion for extension through the tray mount,   a tray top movably mounted on the tray bottom,   means for locking the tray top on the tray bottom so that the tray top is fixed in a pre-determined position relative to the back portion of the seat,   means for moving the tray top upon the tray bottom so that the tray top is released from the fixed pre-determined position and slides between a retracted fixed position and an expanded fixed position, and   means for mounting the tray bottom on the arms to position the tray top in front of a child seated in the seat portion without blocking movement of the tray top between the retracted position and the expanded position, the mounting means including a locking bar, mounting latches coupled to the bar, and spring means for normally urging the mounting latches into engagement with the annular rim so that the tray bottom is securely mounted on the arms, and each guiding portion of the tray bottom is sized for placement of the mounting latch therein so that the annular rim is fixed between the guiding portion and the mounting latch when the tray bottom is fixed on the arms.   
     
     
       37. A seat tray system for a chair seat having a seating portion, a back portion, and arms, the system comprising a tray bottom formed for engagement with the arms,   a tray top movably mounted on the tray bottom, the tray top including a border extending about the perimeter of the tray top, the border is formed to include an aperture therethrough,   means for locking the tray top on the tray bottom so that the tray top is fixed in a pre-determined position relative to the back portion of the seat,   means for moving the tray top upon the tray bottom so that the tray top is released from the fixed pre-determined position and slides between a retracted fixed position and an expanded fixed position, the moving means including a handle affixed to the locking means and sized for extension through the aperture, and   means for mounting the tray bottom on the arms to position the tray top in front of a child seated in the seat portion without blocking movement of the tray top between the retracted position and the expanded position.   
     
     
       38. The assembly of claim 37, wherein the tray top includes an outward edge, and the tray top is released to slide upon the tray bottom following movement of the handle through the aperture and away from the outward edge. 
     
     
       39. A seat tray assembly for use on a chair seat having a back portion, a seating portion, and arms, the assembly comprising a tray top having an outward side, an inward side, and a pivot post coupled to the inward side and extending toward the seating portion,   a tray bottom being formed for extension between the arms and to include an outer surface facing the tray top, an inner surface, at least one passageway extending between the outer surface and the inner surface,   a locking mechanism positioned between the tray top and the tray bottom, the mechanism including a latch movably coupled to the pivot post, a lock unit movably joined with the latch, latch posts coupled to the outer surface of the tray bottom and extending toward the inward side of the tray top, and spring means for normally urging the lock unit toward the back portion and the latch into engagement with the latch posts to set the tray top in a pre-determined set locked position relative to the seat back, and   a mounting mechanism including a locking bar, mounting latches coupled to the locking bar, and spring means for normally urging the latches through the passageway and into engagement with the seat so that the tray bottom is fixed in a locked position relative to the tray top.   
     
     
       40. The assembly of claim 39, wherein the latch includes a head portion, a tail portion, and a central pivot portion situated therebetween, and the central pivot portion is movably coupled to the pivot post. 
     
     
       41. The assembly of claim 40, wherein the latch further includes an outermost surface facing the tray top and an innermost surface resting on the lock unit, the pivot portion is formed to include a slot extending between the outermost surface and the innermost surface, and the lock unit and the latch are movably joined along the slot of the pivot portion. 
     
     
       42. The assembly of claim 39, wherein the tray bottom includes means for positioning the mounting latches within a tray mount included with the arms of the chair seat so that the mounting latches securely fix the tray bottom to the chair. 
     
     
       43. The assembly of claim 42, wherein the positioning means is a guiding portion surrounding each passageway and is adapted to extend in an inward direction toward the seating portion, the guiding portion includes an inner end that is adapted to be facing the seating portion and an outer end, and the mounting latch extends through the passageway and is adapted to be yieldably biased into engagement with an annular rim of the tray mount. 
     
     
       44. The assembly of claim 43, wherein the mounting latch includes a catch having an inward portion and an outward portion, the outward portion engages an undercut of the annular rim, and the inward end of the guiding portion is adapted to be seated on a mounting lip of the annular rim to fasten the tray bottom on the arms of the seat. 
     
     
       45. The assembly of claim 43, wherein the guiding portion further includes a lip positioned therein and a latch slot extending through the lip, and the mounting latch extends through the latch slot and adapted to engage the annular rim in a tray mount-engaging position. 
     
     
       46. A seat tray assembly for use on a chair seat having a back portion, a seating portion, and arms, the assembly comprising a tray top having an outward side, an inward side, and a pivot post coupled to the inward side and extending toward the seating portion,   a tray bottom formed to include an outer surface facing the tray top, an inner surface, at least one passageway extending between the outer surface and the inner surface,   a locking mechanism positioned between the tray top and the tray bottom, the mechanism including a latch movably coupled to the pivot post and being formed to include a head portion, a tail portion, a central pivot portion situated therebetween and movably coupled to the pivot post, and a pivot aperture extending therethrough and the pivot post extends through the pivot aperture, a lock unit movably joined with the latch, latch posts coupled to the outer surface of the tray bottom and extending toward the inward side of the tray top, and spring means for normally urging the lock unit toward the back portion and the latch into engagement with the latch posts to set the tray top in a pre-determined set locked position relative to the seat back, and   a mounting mechanism including a locking bar, mounting latches coupled to the locking bar, and spring means for normally urging the latches through the passageway and into engagement with the seat so that the tray bottom is fixed in a locked position relative to the tray top.   
     
     
       47. A seat tray assembly for use on a chair seat having a back portion, a seating portion, and arms, the assembly comprising a tray top having an outward side, an inward side, and a pivot post coupled to the inward side and extending toward the seating portion,   a tray bottom formed to include an outer surface facing the tray top, an inner surface, at least one passageway extending between the outer surface and the inner surface,   a locking mechanism positioned between the tray top and the tray bottom, the mechanism including a latch movably coupled to the pivot post, and being formed to include a head portion, a tail portion, a central pivot portion situated therebetween and movably coupled to the pivot post, an outermost surface facing the tray top and an innermost surface, the pivot portion being formed to include a slot extending between the outermost surface and the innermost surface, and the slot includes opposite ends, a lock unit supporting and movably joined with the latch along the slot of the pivot portion and including a pivot bar extending through the slot so that the latch is in a latching post-engaging position when the pivot bar is positioned in the first end of the slot and the latch is in a latching post-disengaging position when the pivot bar is positioned in the second end of the slot, latch posts coupled to the outer surface of the tray bottom and extending toward the inward side of the tray top, and spring means for normally urging the lock unit toward the back portion and the latch into engagement with the latch posts to set the tray top in a pre-determined set locked position relative to the seat back, and   a mounting mechanism including a locking bar, mounting latches coupled to the locking bar, and spring means for normally urging the latches through the passageway and into engagement with the seat so that the tray bottom is fixed in a locked position relative to the tray top.   
     
     
       48. A seat tray system for a chair seat having a seating portion, a back portion, and arms, the system comprising a tray bottom formed for engagement with and extension between the arms,   a tray top mounted on the tray bottom for sliding movement relative to and above the tray bottom between at least two set positions,   means for mounting the tray bottom on the arms to position the tray top in front of a child seated on the seat portion and in spaced-apart relation to the back portion without blocking movement of the tray top relative to the tray bottom so that the tray top is slidable relative to the tray bottom between a retracted set position close to the back portion and an extended set position away from the back portion, and   means for selectively locking the slidable tray top in one of the at least two set positions on the tray bottom to cause the tray top to occupy a memory position lying on the tray bottom and having a fixed spaced-apart relation to the seat back once the tray bottom is mounted on the arms using the mounting means so that the tray top is returned automatically to the memory position each time the tray bottom is mounted on the arms.